WHS softball team

blasts Wilkes Central
From staff reports

WILKESBORO — Watauga scored five runs in the second inning and six in the third and crushed Wilkes Central 15-2 Wednesday in softball.

Watauga got all of the pitching it needed from Maddi Bakken, who gave up just three hits and a run in the first and another in the fourth innings.

Offensively, Watauga’s Nicole Reilly led off the game with a solo home run. Hannah Yates also had a solo home run in the sixth inning.

The Pioneers exploded for five runs in the second keyed by a leadoff triple by Kayla Kincaid, who scored on an error. Reilly added an RBI triple with two outs and scored on the first of two doubles by Beth Wilson. She drove in two runs in the third with a double.

Chandler Butler also drove in two runs with a single in the third.

“I thought the girls came out and played well today,” Pioneers coach Brian Vannoy said. “I told the girls that we needed to jump out front early and not let Wilkes hang around. Wilkes starts five freshmen and if you let them hang around they'll build confidence as the game goes on. I thought it was important to get the lead to put the pressure on them, and the girls executed that. Nicole leading the game off with a home run was a huge momentum builder for us.”

Defensively, the Pioneers made just one error. Vannoy was also happy with Bakken’s performance on the mound.

“Maddi Bakken pitched a great game today in her first start of the season,” “She hit her spots well consistently throughout the game and only walked one batter. Maddi and Nicole (Monday against West Forsyth) have both pitched well to start the season and if they continue to pitch that way we're going to be pretty tough.”

The Pioneers open the Northwestern 4-A Conference season at South Caldwell Friday night.